Gauntlet /(?)/

Gaunt·let

Gauntlet

n.
  1. See Gantlet. (Mil.)

Gauntlet

n.
  1. A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds.
  2. A long glove, covering the wrist.
  3. A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying. (Naut.)

Phrases & Compounds
To take up the gauntlet
to accept a challenge.
To throw down the gauntlet
to offer or send a challenge. The gauntlet or glove was thrown down by the knight challenging, and was taken up by the one who accepted the challenge; -- hence the phrases.